Spraying devices

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a combined jet nozzle and control valve assembly for particular use in devices using fluid pressure for aspirating a liquid or powder from a container and directing it from the jet nozzle. By combining the jet nozzle and control valve in the manner of the invention a mechanically simpler and more easily operable device than previously known ones is obtained. The device of the invention comprises a jet nozzle and control valve assembly including a housing adapted to be detachably secured to a container and having an aperture for communication with the interior of said container, a passage through said housing having said aperture communicating therewith and adapted to be connected at one end to a source of fluid pressure, a jet nozzle located in the other end of said passage and having a fluid passage therethrough in communication with said source of fluid pressure, and a further passage in communication between said fluid passage and said aperture, a control valve located in a valve passage in said housing adjacent said one end of the first-named said passage, said control valve comprising a member slidable in said valve passage and having a hole formed therethrough for alternative movement into and out of coaxial register with and between said fluid passage and said source of fluid pressure and having a flat portion thereon engageable with a resilient sealing member on the adjacent end of said jet nozzle in all slidable positions of said control valve.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Wesley David Martin New South Wales,Australia [21] Appl. No. 835,409 [22] Filed June 23, 1969 [45] PatentedMar. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee G. G. Benjamin & Company Pty, Limited NewSouth Wales, Australia [54] SPRAYING DEVICES 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.[52] US. Cl 239/318, 239/346, 239/369, 239/375, 25 l/325, 137/604 [51]Int. Cl B05b 7/30 [50] Field of Search 239/302, 310, 318, 337, 340, 346,369, 375; 251/324, 325; 137/604; 222/402.16

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,034,731 5/1962 Chapin239/318 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-MichaelY. Mar Att0meyWenderoth, Lind & Ponack ABSTRACT: This invention relatesto a combined jet nozzle and control valve assembly for particular usein devices using fluid pressure for aspirating a liquid or powder from acontainer and directing it from the jet nozzle. By combining the jetnozzle and control valve in the manner of the invention a mechanicallysimpler and more easily operable device than previously known ones isobtained. The device of the invention comprises a jet nozzle and controlvalve assembly including a housing adapted to be detachably secured to acontainer and having an aperture for communication with the interior ofsaid container, a passage through said housing having said aperturecommunicating therewith and adapted to be connected at one end to asource of fluid pressure, a jet nozzle located in the other end of saidpassage and having a fluid passage therethrough in communication withsaid source of fluid pressure, and a further passage in communicationbetween said .fluid passage and said aperture, a control valve locatedin a valve passage in said housing adjacent said one end of thefirst-named said passage, said control valve comprising a memberslidable in said valve passage and having a hole formed therethrough foralternative movement into and out of coaxial register with and betweensaid fluid passage and said source of fluid pressure and having a flatportion thereon engageable with a resilient sealing member on theadjacent end of said jet nozzle in all slidable positions of saidcontrol valve.

PATENTED MAR 2 I97! SHEET 1 OF 2 WESLEY DAVID MARTIN,Inventor AttorneysH z I WESLEY DAVID MARTIN Invent FIGJO 62 LMMMXMLMWM/L SPRAYING DEVICESThis invention relates to improvements in spraying devices and inparticular to devices using fluid pressure for aspirating a liquid orpowder from a container and directing it in the form of a jet or sprayto a desired place or area.

Whilst not confined to such a limited use, such devices are suitable fordirecting insecticidal liquids on vegetation, in which case the fluidpressure can be supplied by connecting the device to a hose coupled to amains watersupply. When used for aspirating a powder, it may besimilarly connected so that the powder is mixed with the water anddirected as a suspension or it may be connected to a gas or air supplyso that the powder is directed as such. The device, when connected to agas or air supply may also be used for spraying paint or oil. It will beobvious from the above that the device has many and varied applications,and the scope of the invention is accordingly not intended to be limitedto any specific purpose to which it may be applied.

Devices of a generally similar nature are already known, but suffer fromvarious disadvantages; largely due to difficulties in controlling theejection of material from the device and in preventing leakages,particularly around the control valve and jet.

One object of the present invention is to provide in such devices a jetand control valve assembly whereby the above disadvantage is eliminated.

A further object is to provide a spraying device including the above jetand control valve assembly.

there is provided in a spraying device, a jet nozzle and control valveassembly including ahousing adapted to be detachably secured to acontainer and having an aperture for communication with the interior ofsaid container, a passage through said housing having said aperturecommunicating therewith and adapted to be connected at one end to asource of fluid pressure, a jet nozzle located in the other end of saidpassage and having a fluid passage therethrough in communication withsaid source of fluid pressure, and a further passage in communicationbetween said fluid passage and said aperture, a control valve located ina valve 'passage in said housing adjacent said one end of thefirst-named said passage, said control valve comprising a memberslidable in said valve passage and having a hole formed therethrough foralternative movement into and out of coaxial register with and betweensaid fluid passage and said source of fluid pressure and having a flatportion thereon engageable with a resilient sealing member on theadjacent end of said jet nozzle in all slidable positions of saidcontrol valve.

According to a further general form of the invention there is provided aspraying device including a jet nozzle andcontrol valve assembly ashereinabove defined, a container detachably secured to said housing, aflexible tubesurrounding said aperture and depending within saidcontainer to a point adjacent the base thereof, a handle secured toandprojecting from said housing and means for supplying fluid pressure tosaid one end of said passage through said housing.

A better understanding of the invention may, however, be obtained fromthe following description of one exemplary form thereof, it beingappreciated, however, that this descrip' tion isexemplary only, and thatthe full scope of the invention is not intended to be limited by anyspecific terms necessarily used for the purpose of this description.

By way of explanation, it is to be understood that terms of orientationsuch as upper, lower," horizontal," vertical and so on refer'to theaspect of the various integers when the jet and control valve assemblyissecuredto a container which is standing on its base on a horizontalsurface. Similarly, the "front of the device is that side from which.thejet or spray is ejected.

One exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. v1 is an exploded view, partly in vertical section of the sprayingdevice;

According to one general form of the invention, therefore,

FIG. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an axial section of the jet nozzle;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal elevation of the jet nozzle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, partly in axial section, of the controlvalve;

FIG. 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively a top plan view and an elevation of thedeflector plate, FIG. 8 being taken on the arrow 8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the nonretum valve; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are, respectively, an axial section and an endelevationof the pipe socket for the nonretum valve and the valve of FIG. 9, FIG.11 being taken on the arrow 11 of FIG. 10.

Referring now to the drawings, a container 10 for the present devicecomprises a substantially frustoconical bottle.having.a closed base 12and an open upper portion 14 in the form of a cylindrical neck 16 uponthe upper end of which is formed rathermore than one turn or helix ofcoarse thread 18 such as conventional bottle thread. The container 10may be made of metal such as aluminum, in which case the thread 18 willbe formed by rolling in the known manner. Preferably, however, thecontainer 10 is formed from a semitransparent or transparent plasticsmaterial such as polypropylene in which case the thread 18 is formed asthe container 10 is being molded. Such a plastics material is preferred,as it enables the .user to observe the amount of material availablewithin the container 10 without the need to remove it from the housing20.

As will be seen hereunder, material from the container 10 is drawn byaspiration from a tube 22 depending into the container and to ensurethat the maximum amount of material may be so withdrawn, the center ofits base 12 is upwardly recessed to leave an annular peripheral well 24around the base 12, into which well 24 the tube 22 depends.

The upper threaded portion 18 of the container 10 is engageable with amating thread 26 formed in the jet nozzle and control valve housing 20now to be described.

This housing 20 consists of a lower annular member 28 interiorly ofwhich the mating thread 26 is formed. Above the threaded portion 26, theinterior of the housing is domed as at 30 in substantially conical formand centrally of the dome 30 is formedan aspirating aperture 32 whichleads into a jet nozzle passage 34 formed horizontally into an upwardprojection 36 of the body of the housing'20 from the front of thehousing. For the, greater part of its .depth from the front of thehousing 20 the jet nozzle passage 34 is of sufficient diameter to holdthe body portion of a jet nozzle, later to be described, butat its rearend the jet nozzle passage 34 is considerably reduced in diameter toform a reduced diameter passage 38 which leads into a chamber 40 whichis connected through suitable hose fittings 42, 44 to a flexible hose(not shown) which is connected to a'source of fluid pressure, whichlatter may be a mains pressure water supply or a supply of compressedair.

The chamber 40 is counterbored to two diameters, the largest diametersection '46 at the outer end of the chamber 40 being internally threadedto take a screw-in nonreturn valve hose fitting 48 and the smallerdiameter portion 50, at the inner end of the chamber 40, having a smoothbore and being connectedto the jet nozzle passage 34 through the reduceddiameter passage 38. A nonreturn valve 52, preferably of the flap-type,is located-in the chamber-40 to rest on the annular ledge54-formed bythe junction of the'counterbores 46 and --As shown particularly inFIGS.9 to 11, the nonretum valve 52-is a rubber or flexible plasticsdisc having a cruciform incision-'56 formed through its center. The discabuts against the passages 66 which are normally obstructed by thenonreturn valve disc 52 radially outwardly of the cruciform incision 56.This is best shown in FIG. 11 when associated with FIG. 10. The hosefittings 42, 44, with a sealing washer 68 are secured in the normal wayto the fitting 48 by engaging the thread 70 on the nipple 44 with theinternal thread 60 of the fitting 48 so that, in the normal manner forsuch hose couplings, the ring nut 42 can be rotated to screw it on to anormal hose-end fitting (not shown).

The cruciform incision 56 allows fluid under pressure to pass from thefitting 48 to the chamber 40 by flexing the nonreturn valve 52 away fromthe wall 72 and opening the incision 56. With any reversal of pressure,the flaps formed by the cruciform incision 56 close against the wall 72and thus prevent any reverse flow of fluid.

Formed at right angles to the jet nozzle passage 34 at its inner end andmerging with the adjacent end of the reduced diameter portion 38 of thepassage, is a horizontal control valve passage 74 which is open at eachend through the body 36 of the housing 20, and in this control valvepassage 74 is slidable a generally cylindrical control valve 76 which islonger than the control valve passage 74 so that when slid in the saidpassage one or other of its ends will project outwardly of the housingbody 36.

Approximately midway of its length and extending for some distance oneach side of its axial center the control valve 76 has a flattenedportion 78 formed on a chord thereof and formed diametrically throughthe valve 76 so that it emerges through the radial center of theflattened portion 78 in a flow passage 80 of the same diameter as thereduced portion 38 of the jet nozzle passage 34. The flow passage 80 isaxially offset to one side of the axial center of the flattened portion78 in such a manner that when the control valve 76 is moved axially inone direction the flow passage 80 is aligned with the reduced portion 38of the jet nozzle passage 34 to provide a fluid flow path therethrough,whilst upon movement in the other direction, the passages 34 and 80 arebrought out of alignment and the fluid flow is interrupted.

To prevent external leakage past the ends of the control valve 76 andalso the provide a resistance to movement of the control valve 76 sothat it cannot accidentally be moved or dislodged, it is provided with aperipheral groove 82 (see FIG. at each axial side of the flattenedportion 78 and in each groove is located a resilient rubber or plasticsO-ring 84.

The flattened portion 78 faces the larger diameter portion of the jetnozzle passage 34 and its flat surface lies normal to the axis of thejet nozzle passage 34. It may be held in this position by the end of apeg engaging in an axial recess (not shown) formed in the periphery ofthe control valve 76. This is not essential, however, as describedhereunder.

The jet nozzle 86 itself is a tight press fit in the jet nozzle passage34 and consists of a cylindrical member ,which is pressed firmly intothe jet nozzle passage 34 from the front thereof until a resilientrubber or plastics O-ring 88 secured in an annular groove 90 at itsinner end rests in sealing engagement on the flat portion 78 of thecontrol valve 76.

The jet nozzle 86 is cylindrical throughout its length but at its outerend has an enlarged annular rim 90, which may be peripherally knurled,although this is-not essential.

At a position thereon which, when the jet nozzle 86 is fully pressedinto the jet nozzle passage 34, will coincide with the aspiratingaperture 32 in the dome of the housing 20, an annular groove 92 isformed in the periphery of the jet nozzle 86 and formed diametricallythrough this groove 92 is an aspirating passage 94 of the same diameteras the aspirating aperture 32. On each side of this groove 92 is formeda further annular groove 96 and in each of these further grooves 96 islocated a resilient rubber or plastics Oring. The O-rings 98 are of suchsize as to hold the jet nozzle 86 firmly in the jet nozzle passage 34.

Formed coaxially through the jet nozzle 86 is a counterbored spraying(or jetting) bore 100 of two different diameters 102, 104 which join atthe position of the aspirating passage 94. The smaller diameter portion104 of the bore 100 is of the same diameter as the flow passage throughthe control valve 76, with which it is aligned in the flow position ofthe valve. The other, or front, end 102 of the bore is of slightlygreater diameter and the change in diameter acts similarly to a venturiwhen pressure fluid is passed therethrough.

With the above parts in position and a suitable liquid or powder in thecontainer 10, if pressure fluid is directed through the jet nozzle 86 bymovementof the control valve 76, there will be a drop in pressure at thejunction of the smaller and larger diameter portions 104, 102 of the jetnozzle bore 100 and this will cause powder or liquid to be aspiratedthrough the tube 22 in the container 10 and to be ejected from the jetnozzle 86,,mixed with the pressure fluid, substantially in the form of astream or jet.

Such a stream is, in some instances, what is required. In otherinstances, however, a spray may be needed and means may be providedwhereby, at will, the stream may readily be converted to a spray which,itself, may also be adjusted.

For this purpose an adjustable deflector 106 is pivoted to the housing20 at 108 (FIG. 1) slightly below and in front of the point of emissionfrom the jet nozzle 86.

This deflector 106 consists of a circular flat plate 110 from which aportion has been removed on a chord thereof as at 112. This plate 110 issecured to two angle brackets 114 which are separated to leave a space116 therebetween. At the angle of these brackets 114, they are pivotedat 108 to the housing body 20 on each side of and below the jet nozzle86 so that the circular portion of the plate 110-projects in front of,but clear of, the jet nozzle 86. The arms 118 of the two angle brackets114 extend upwardly, one on each side of the jet nozzle 86 an areconnected together at their upper ends by a crossbar 120 which ishorizontally stepped or otherwise roughened as at 122 to form a fingerplate 124.

If it is desired to change the stream issuing from the jet nozzle 86into a spray, the finger plate 124 is moved backwards so that thedeflector plate 110 is tilted into the path of the stream which, uponstriking the deflector plate 110, is transformed into a spray, theintensity and angle of spread of which will vary with the angle of thedeflector plate 110 relative to the stream as it leaves the jet nozzle86.

To the body 20, preferably opposite the jet nozzle 86, is secured anoperating handle 126, which may conveniently be of the pistol-grip type.

Whilst the invention is not intended to be limited by any specificmaterial used in its construction, it may be found convenient tomanufacture all parts except the jet nozzle 86 hose attachments andpivots or screws from a plastics material such as P.V.C. ofpolypropylene. This is not essential, however, and any substitution ofmaterials is considered to lie within the scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. in a spraying device, a jet nozzle and control valve assemblyincluding a housing adapted to be detachably secured to a container andhaving an aperture for communication with the interior of saidcontainer, a passage through said housing having said aperturecommunicating therewith and adapted to be connected at one end to asource of fluid pressure, a jet nozzle located in the other end ,of saidpassage and having a fluid passage therethrough in communication withsaid source of fluid pressure, and a further passage in communicationbetween said fluid passage and said aperture, a control valve located ina valve passage in said housing adjacent said one end of the first-namedsaid passage, said control valve comprising a member slidable in saidvalve passage and having a hold formed therethrough for alternativemovement into and out of coaxial register with and between said fluidpassage and said source of fluid pressure and having a flat portionthereon engageable with a resilient sealing member on the adjacent endof said jet nozzle in all slidable positions of said control valve.

2. An assembly accordingto claim J1, wherein the fluid passage throughsaid jet nozzle is of two different diameters with the largest saiddiameter located at the end of the fluid passage remote from said sourceof fluid pressure and said aperture is in communication with said fluidpassage through said fluid passage through said further passage at thejunction of said two different diameters of said fluid passage, wherebysaid fluid passage is adapted to function as an aspirating ventur1.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said jet nozzle iscylindrical and includes a peripheral groove in the base of which saidfurther passage is formed diametrically through said jet nozzle.

4. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein said jet nozzle is a pressfit in said other end of said passage through said housing and issecured therein by peripheral resilient sealing rmgs.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said resilient sealingrings are two peripheral O-rings located one in each of two furtherperipheral grooves located one at each opposite axial side of thefirst-named said peripheral groove.

6. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein said control valve iscylindrical in form and said flat portion is formed by removing an axialportion of the periphery of said cylindrical control valve on a chord ofsaid periphery.

7. An assembly according to claim ll, wherein said control valve is heldin fluidtight slidable engagement within said valve passage by axiallyspaced resilient sealing rings.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein said resilient sealingrings are two O-rings located one in each of two peripheral grooves insaid control valve, one said groove and O-ring being located axiallyoutwards of said flat portion on opposite axial sides thereof.

9. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the resilient sealingmember engageable with the flat portion of said control valve is aresilient O-ring located in an annular grooveformed in said adjacent endof said jet nozzle.

ll). A spraying device including a jet nozzle and control valve assemblyas claimed in claim 1, a container detachably secured to said housing, atube surrounding said aperture and depending within said container to apoint adjacent the base thereof, a handle secured to and projecting fromsaid housing and means for supplying fluid pressure to said one end ofsaid passage through said housing.

1. In a spraying device, a jet nozzle and control valve assemblyincluding a housing adapted to be detachably secured to a container andhaving an aperture for communication with the interior of saidcontainer, a passage through said housing having said aperturecommunicating therewith and adapted to be connected at one end to asource of fluid pressure, a jet nozzle located in the other end of saidpassage and having a fluid passage therethrough in communication withsaid source of fluid pressure, and a further passage in communicationbetween said fluid passage and said aperture, a control valve located ina valve passage in said housing adjacent said one end of the first-namedsaid passage, said control valve comprising a member slidable in saidvalve passage and having a hold formed therethrough for alternativemovement into and out of coaxial register with and between said fluidpassage and said source of fluid pressure and having a flat portionthereon engageable with a resilient sealing member on the adjacent endof said jet nozzle in all slidable positions of said control valve. 2.An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fluid passage through saidjet nozzle is of two different diameters with the largest said diameterlocated at the end of the fluid passage remote from said source of fluidpressure and said aperture is in communication with said fluid passagethrough said fluid passage through said further passage at the junctionof said two different diameters of said fluid passage, whereby saidfluid passage is adapted to function as an aspirating venturi.
 3. Anassembly according to claim 1, wherein said jet nozzle is cylindricaland includes a peripheral groove in the base of which said furtherpassage is formed diametrically through said jet nozzle.
 4. An assemblyaccording to claim 2, wherein said jet nozzle is a press fit in saidother end of said passage through said housing and is secured therein byperipheral resilient sealing rings.
 5. An assembly according to claim 4,wherein said resilient sealing rings are two peripheral O-rings locatedone in each of two further peripheral grooves located one at eachopposite axial side of the first-named said peripheral groove.
 6. Anassembly according to claim 2, wherein said control valve is cylindricalin form and said flat portion is formed by removing an axial portion ofthe pEriphery of said cylindrical control valve on a chord of saidperiphery.
 7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said controlvalve is held in fluidtight slidable engagement within said valvepassage by axially spaced resilient sealing rings.
 8. An assemblyaccording to claim 7, wherein said resilient sealing rings are twoO-rings located one in each of two peripheral grooves in said controlvalve, one said groove and O-ring being located axially outwards of saidflat portion on opposite axial sides thereof.
 9. An assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein the resilient sealing member engageable with theflat portion of said control valve is a resilient O-ring located in anannular groove formed in said adjacent end of said jet nozzle.
 10. Aspraying device including a jet nozzle and control valve assembly asclaimed in claim 1, a container detachably secured to said housing, atube surrounding said aperture and depending within said container to apoint adjacent the base thereof, a handle secured to and projecting fromsaid housing and means for supplying fluid pressure to said one end ofsaid passage through said housing.